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A substantial increase in prize money and a host of promotional offers for players and spectators alike were announced by title sponsors Mahindra & Mahindra in Mumbai on Monday to launch the Elite and Super Division matches of the Mahindra Mumbai Football League 2007.
The occasion was also used to welcome two new partners to the Mahindra MFL, Nature Valley, who have come in as the Energy Sponsor, and Tiger Balm (Elder Pharmaceuticals), who have joined the fold as partners.
The new initiatives would include the man of the match award of Rs 1,000 to be given for each of the 49 league matches in the preliminary stage, while this amount would be doubled to Rs 2,000 for each of the 15 league matches in the play-off stage.
A Fairplay Trophy would be awarded to the teams with the least number of cards, along with a cash prize of Rs 20,000.
A total of 17 teams will feature in the Elite Division, with the two NFL teams, Mahindra United and Air India seeded directly into the play-off league. The remaining 15 teams have been divided into two groups and will play a single leg league, from which the top two teams from each group will advance into the play-off to join Mahindra United and Air-India. The six teams will again play a single leg league, from which the teams finishing number 1 and 2 will be declared the winner and runner-up of the Harwood League.
The team finishing last in each group at the end of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Super Division for the 2008-09 season.
The Super Division will have 9 teams, who will play a single leg preliminary league, from which five teams will advance into a play-off league. The teams finishing in the first and second position at the end of the play-off league will be declared winner and runner-up of the Super Division.
Besides providing Mumbai's soccer lovers with top quality football, the Promoters Saran Presents have planned a host of initiatives to make the MDFA Leagues more exciting for players, officials, administrators and spectators. The Spectator Loyalty Card would be activated in the Elite Division Play off League.
The Mahindra MFL Elite Division includes Groups 'A' and 'B' as follows:
Group A: Akbar Travels, Bank of India, Western Railway, Kenkre Academy, MS Police, Mumbai United, ONGC
Group B: BMFC, Central Railway, Indian Navy, Mumbai Customs, Mumbai FC, Dena Bank, RCF, Union Bank.
In order to accommodate more teams and encourage new footballing talent in the city, a decision was made to add the fifth division to the MDFA calendar. A total of 238 teams will be participating this year across the Elite, Super, Senior, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Divisions as well as the Women's competition. The matches in the Super, Senior and Division, I, II, III, IV and V have already begun.